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Mapping wetland cover in the greater Himalayan region: a hybrid method combining multispectral and ecological characteristics

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Abstract

In the greater Himalayan region, wetland ecosystems such as lakes, marshes, and peat lands play an important role in regulating the flow of major rivers. These ecosystems are often overlooked and not well represented on land-use planning and conservation maps. Wetland complexes are partly ephemeral and difficult to map accurately either with digital image processing or visual interpretation. This study developed a hybrid method of extracting spatial patterns of wetland areas which combines month-on-month multispectral classifications of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data with a sample wetland extraction method based on knowledge of the spectral characteristics of satellite data and wetland ecological systems. The results were compared with the best available sources for lakes and wetlands on global and national scales. It was demonstrated that the method could extract wetlands automatically to a reasonable degree of accuracy and, therefore, reduce the need for extensive ground knowledge. The model was transferred by adjusting parameters through application of high-resolution satellite data (Landsat) in some sub-basin areas. These findings are cognizant with field interviews conducted by wetland experts. The hybrid method and high-altitude wetlands maps will provide decision makers with valuable information about wetland distribution and change in response to global warming and human activities.

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Acknowledgments

Research was part of IDRC-supported project on “Building effective water governance in the Asian highlands”. This study is a part of the project called ‘Support for the Himalayan Initiative through application of the Asian Wetland Inventory approach and stakeholder-led catchment management in Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal’ supported by the European Union (EU) Asia Pro Eco Programme. This research is also a part of the CGIAR Research Program 5: Water, Land and Ecosystems. Special thanks to the anonymous reviewer for his strategic comments to the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China

    Zhuoqing Li & Jianchu Xu

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Scienes, Beijing, China

    Zhuoqing Li

  3. Yunnan Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kunming, China

    Zhuoqing Li & Xing Ma

  4. World Agroforestry Centre, China Programme, Kunming, China

    Jianchu Xu & Xing Ma

  5. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kunming, China

    Rajendra L. Shilpakar

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  1. Zhuoqing Li
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  2. Jianchu Xu
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  3. Rajendra L. Shilpakar
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  4. Xing Ma
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Correspondence to Jianchu Xu.

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Li, Z., Xu, J., Shilpakar, R.L. et al. Mapping wetland cover in the greater Himalayan region: a hybrid method combining multispectral and ecological characteristics. Environ Earth Sci 71, 1083–1094 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2512-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2512-y

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